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Research reveals new link between Vitamin D, lung bacteria and asthma

A Telethon Institute for Child Health Research study has uncovered a new link between vitamin D levels and asthma.

The research is the first to show a connection between vitamin D deficiency and bacterial infections in the lungs that could bring on, or exacerbate, asthma attacks.

The study, published recently in PLOS ONE medical journal, also showed that boys with low vitamin D levels are potentially more susceptible to the onset of asthma from lung bacteria than girls.

Lead Author Dr Shelley Gorman said the study re-enforced the key role good vitamin D levels play in keeping our kids healthy.

"Previous studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency in the womb affects lung development, but this is the first study to make a definite link between poor vitamin D levels and bacteria-causing lung inflammation that could contribute to asthma," she said.

Using animal models the researchers were able to determine that by improving vitamin D levels after birth, the risk of increasing lung bacteria levels and subsequent inflammation was reduced.

"It's early days but what this indicates is that by improving their vitamin D levels we may be able to better control lung bacterial levels that cause inflammation. This inflammation could exacerbate asthma in older kids," said Dr Gorman.

The researchers say that more research is now needed to determine why boys with low vitamin D levels are more affected than girls.

This latest Telethon Institute research study was supported by the BrightSpark Foundation, Raine Medical Research Foundation and the Asthma Foundation of WA.